CardioRespiratory Effects of Wildfire Suppression (CREWS) study: an experimental overview
An increase in the severity of global wildfires necessitates examination of the associated health risks, particularly in wildfire personnel. Exposure to particulate matter from smoke (PM2.5), soil/dust, and ash (PM4) and other wildfire-associated pollutants (carbon monoxide) have previously been lin...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1578582/full |
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| author | L. Madden Brewster Drew Lichty Natasha Broznitsky Philip N. Ainslie |
| author_facet | L. Madden Brewster Drew Lichty Natasha Broznitsky Philip N. Ainslie |
| author_sort | L. Madden Brewster |
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| description | An increase in the severity of global wildfires necessitates examination of the associated health risks, particularly in wildfire personnel. Exposure to particulate matter from smoke (PM2.5), soil/dust, and ash (PM4) and other wildfire-associated pollutants (carbon monoxide) have previously been linked to acute cardiovascular and respiratory dysfunction. Despite mounting epidemiological evidence of cardiorespiratory-related morbidity and mortality related to wildfire suppression exposures, the chronic effects (>1 year) of wildland firefighting on the pathophysiological progression of cardiorespiratory disease in this vulnerable group remain largely uncharacterized. Thus, a repeated-measures study with open recruitment over 3-years was designed in partnership with the University of British Columbia Okanagan and the British Columbia Wildfire Service (BCWS) to address gaps in wildland firefighter (WFF) health research. The primary aims of the CardioRespiratory Effects of Wildfire Suppression (CREWS) Study are to: 1) Examine the chronic effect(s) of wildfire suppression on selected aspects of vascular and respiratory health in BCWS WFFs, 2) Examine cardiorespiratory effect(s) of acute (e.g., cross-shift) wildfire suppression, and 3) Identify mechanisms contributing to the progression of wildfire-associated cardiorespiratory dysfunction in WFFs. To address these aims, as detailed in this overview, selected clinical and subclinical cardiorespiratory measures, circulating and airway-specific inflammatory biomarkers, heavy metal exposure, and personal air sampling methods to detect wildfire smoke, dust, and ash exposure will be employed across three consecutive wildfire seasons in the same cohort of BCWS WFFs. The findings from this study will provide new insight into the short and long-term impact of wildland firefighting on cardiorespiratory health. This information will inform guidelines and development of future mitigation strategies to improve long-term health and safety in WFFs. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-df3aad7bc4c344a899eee82df27c69b4 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-df3aad7bc4c344a899eee82df27c69b42025-08-20T02:30:35ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-05-011310.3389/fpubh.2025.15785821578582CardioRespiratory Effects of Wildfire Suppression (CREWS) study: an experimental overviewL. Madden Brewster0Drew Lichty1Natasha Broznitsky2Philip N. Ainslie3Centre for Heart, Lung and Vascular Health, School of Health and Exercise Sciences, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, BC, CanadaCanada Wildfire, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, CanadaResearch and Innovation Business Area, British Columbia Wildfire Service, Victoria, BC, CanadaCentre for Heart, Lung and Vascular Health, School of Health and Exercise Sciences, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, BC, CanadaAn increase in the severity of global wildfires necessitates examination of the associated health risks, particularly in wildfire personnel. Exposure to particulate matter from smoke (PM2.5), soil/dust, and ash (PM4) and other wildfire-associated pollutants (carbon monoxide) have previously been linked to acute cardiovascular and respiratory dysfunction. Despite mounting epidemiological evidence of cardiorespiratory-related morbidity and mortality related to wildfire suppression exposures, the chronic effects (>1 year) of wildland firefighting on the pathophysiological progression of cardiorespiratory disease in this vulnerable group remain largely uncharacterized. Thus, a repeated-measures study with open recruitment over 3-years was designed in partnership with the University of British Columbia Okanagan and the British Columbia Wildfire Service (BCWS) to address gaps in wildland firefighter (WFF) health research. The primary aims of the CardioRespiratory Effects of Wildfire Suppression (CREWS) Study are to: 1) Examine the chronic effect(s) of wildfire suppression on selected aspects of vascular and respiratory health in BCWS WFFs, 2) Examine cardiorespiratory effect(s) of acute (e.g., cross-shift) wildfire suppression, and 3) Identify mechanisms contributing to the progression of wildfire-associated cardiorespiratory dysfunction in WFFs. To address these aims, as detailed in this overview, selected clinical and subclinical cardiorespiratory measures, circulating and airway-specific inflammatory biomarkers, heavy metal exposure, and personal air sampling methods to detect wildfire smoke, dust, and ash exposure will be employed across three consecutive wildfire seasons in the same cohort of BCWS WFFs. The findings from this study will provide new insight into the short and long-term impact of wildland firefighting on cardiorespiratory health. This information will inform guidelines and development of future mitigation strategies to improve long-term health and safety in WFFs.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1578582/fullcardiorespiratorywildfireoccupational and environmental exposureoccupational healthwildland firefighters |
| spellingShingle | L. Madden Brewster Drew Lichty Natasha Broznitsky Philip N. Ainslie CardioRespiratory Effects of Wildfire Suppression (CREWS) study: an experimental overview Frontiers in Public Health cardiorespiratory wildfire occupational and environmental exposure occupational health wildland firefighters |
| title | CardioRespiratory Effects of Wildfire Suppression (CREWS) study: an experimental overview |
| title_full | CardioRespiratory Effects of Wildfire Suppression (CREWS) study: an experimental overview |
| title_fullStr | CardioRespiratory Effects of Wildfire Suppression (CREWS) study: an experimental overview |
| title_full_unstemmed | CardioRespiratory Effects of Wildfire Suppression (CREWS) study: an experimental overview |
| title_short | CardioRespiratory Effects of Wildfire Suppression (CREWS) study: an experimental overview |
| title_sort | cardiorespiratory effects of wildfire suppression crews study an experimental overview |
| topic | cardiorespiratory wildfire occupational and environmental exposure occupational health wildland firefighters |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1578582/full |
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